*Takes Deep Breath* Hang On To Your Socks...This Will Take a While

For today:
United v Aston Villa--Carling Cup Final
Cristiano and his Pichichi Aspirations
Arsenal--A nasty break for the Gunners
C-Club--A nasty break for the Scummers
World Cup kits--A couple of stunners
Bordeaux--A nasty storm is a bummer
Bordeaux--The Bummiest

United Put the Sword to Villa's Cup Hopes
Manchester United became the first side to successfully defend the Carling Cup since 1990.  With 88,000+ in attendance at Wembley Stadium in London, the Reds looked to win in regulation after a penalty shootout win last year.  Traditionally, the Carling Cup runup matches are played with youth members of the squad, and United held true to that, in part, in the Final.  Sir Alex looked to rest Wayne Rooney for being the United workhorse for the last two months and indeed Wazza was put on the sub list, with Berbatov and Owen starting up front.  With Rio and Giggsy still on the injured list, the back four was composed of two veterans (Evra (Capt.), Vidic), and two young ones (Rafael, Jonny Evans).  The midfield was the only area that was experience-packed, with Valencia, Fletcher, Park, and Carrick doing the honors.  The Reds' number one keeper, Edwin Van der Sar (who recently extended his contract another year), was rested for the day.  Instead of going with last year's winning Carling Cup keeper, Ben Foster, the Boss went with Kusczak.
The other side of the pitch was packed with Villa's first team.  But, it wasn't enough.  The first score went to the Villains because Vidic pulled down Agbonlahor in the area (3rd minute), giving Villa a penalty, which Milner converted.  But the remaining 90 minutes belonged to United.  In the 12th minute, Berbatov did some fancy footwork inside the box, stealing the ball from Villa defender Dunne, who then tackled it away from Berba...right onto the foot of the "Fox in the Box" himself, Michael Owen...who said, "I'll take that, thank you!" And slid it past Villa keeper Brad Freidel. 1-1.  United had many more chances to score, coming very close each time, but unable to click the scoreboard tally.  With just under a minute to play in the first half, Owen pulled up lame when he reached too far for a Berba pass, and Man of the Hour Wayne Rooney came on...much to the chagrin of the Villa faithful and team.  He didn't disappoint.  In the 74th minute, he converted a Valencia cross into a winning header, putting the Reds ahead 2-1...and that was all she wrote.  Kudos to Martin O'Neill's bunch for showing up for the match and giving it their best.  They've never played in Wembley before, and I'm sure with their improved play that they will be back.

Oops...naughty Nemanja Vidic pulls down Agbonlahor for a penalty

I love posting Michael Owen pics! Here he celebrates with Berba

...and Fletch

Just one more...

Roo heads home the winner

...and celebrates with Patrice

Capt. Patrice raises the cup for the Red faithful!!

POP! fzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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I Want Me Some Pichichi

Cristiano scored his 13th La Liga goal of the year in their 1-5 drubbing of bottom-dweller Tenerife.  The Canary Islands bunch have always been a nasty test for the Madridiots, with the former usually topping the Merengues.  CR's goal wasn't a stunner; a penalty (obviously he topped Xabi Alonso for the job this time)...and it's importance was debatable (the 4th goal).  He has claimed that the Pichichi (the horribly-named award for most goals in La Liga) is his goal...what about the titles? hmmmm.  But...his teammate, Gonzalo Higuain, is ahead in the Real standings with 16 goals.  David Villa (reportedly a United target...doubtful) tops the table with 17.  The interesting issue here is...who is tops at Real?  After His Royal Ronnyness' expensive move last summer, he was hailed as the savior of Real.  He's hardly been that this year, and Higuain's form has fans begging that HE be the starter in matches, not CR.  Stay tuned.

CR showing his support for his home island, Madeira

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Arsenal--A Nasty Break for the Gunners (GROSS OUT ALERT...SKIP IF U R SQUEAMISH)

The Gunners fought back against Stoke City (a team on the move) to win 1-3, but it was marred by a horrible tackle by Shawcross on 19-yr-old Aaron Ramsey.  Shawcross was given the red, which definitely helped the Gunners come back.  Stoke City had dominated much of the match, so the unfortunate incident and scoreline weren't indicative of the match as a whole.

Shawcross has apologized for the tackle saying, "I didn't mean to hurt him."  Apology or not, the tib-fib fracture has ended the youngster's promising season.  He underwent surgery yesterday and is expected to play again, but when is a good question.  Nearly two years ago another Gunner, Eduardo, suffered a similar fracture.  He is now back playing for his side.

EWWWW!  That leg isn't right!

Ramsey gives the crowd a lift

C-Club--A Nasty Break for the Scummers

Well, as I predicted, the Blues would hold true-to-form and drop more points before the season was over.  And that they did.  Hosting Man @#$% at Stamford Bridge, C-Club was looking to improve on their one-point advantage on United.  But...the Blue side of Manchester had other things in mind.  Two goals by His Royal Trollness and two goals by His Royal Nastyness (Bellamy) was enough to down the 9-man Blues 2-4.  So...they gained 0 points on the Reds.  The pre-match festivities, ironically, promised the most fireworks; the first meeting of John Terry and his aggrieved former friend, Wayne Bridge (see How Disappointing below).  As you will see by the photo (I HAD to show it...ugggh) even the refs were interested to see how they would react to each other.  Of course Bridge snubbed the handshake of Terry, and the crowd gasped, *cue sappy music* as if they thought the two would embrace, cry together, and wave to the crowd that they had mended their differences. Please.  Both teams have bigger fish to fry...one will be lucky to crack the top 4, the other will be lucky to stay atop the table.  All I can say is this off-pitch/on-pitch strife is GREAT FOR UNITED!!!!! (the Carling Cup Champions, in case you haven't heard)

Bridge (#3) avoids JT and the refs are nosy!!!

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World Cup Kits--A Couple of Stunners

With the world ready to convene in South Africa this summer, Nike took the time during their annual NikeFootball event in London to unveil the new away kits for their sponsored national teams.  I like most of them, except the Charlie Brown look on the left.  The United States' kit is a throwback to their 1950 kit (although I feel they could be mistaken for royalty in S.A....or polo players).  Of all, I really love the Portugal kit.  The vertical stripes are striking and so different from their other attire.  My vote for the most unoriginal and boring is the Brazil strip.  It's the same one they always wear...hardly inspiring.  Let's hope their play is...wait...I'm not cheering for Brazil.

U.S. and Portugal (3rd and 4th from left)

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Bordeaux--A Nasty Storm is a Bummer

The Girondins were looking to put an already-postponed Ligue Cup match with Le Mans on the books today, when a terrible storm that wreaked havoc all throughout Europe put a damper on the plans (51 people have died).  The Marine et Blanc already have a backed-up schedule, thanks to a congested Ligue 1/Champions League/Ligue Cup schedule.  I suppose if the Girondins would lose then they could rest easily, but we don't want that.  So more matches will have to be set aside so they can get their previous matches under foot.  I've attached video of the storm footage...hurricane-force winds!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC1HppoH3Jc

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Bordeaux--The Bummiest!!!
from The Daily Mail:

Arsenal are finalising a four-year deal with Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis negotiating the Moroccan's contract, so Arsene Wenger has at least secured one new signing for next season.
Chamakh is out of contract this summer so entitled to speak to Gazidis but the club are unlikely to announce it until the end of the season out of respect for Bordeaux. Chamakh has made little secret of the move.
'I've dreamed of the Premier League since I was a little boy. I am ready to discover the experience for myself,' he said last week. [end story]

If they are not announcing this to the press out of respect for Bordeaux, then why did he leak it to the press?  I'm not doubting that Chamakh is going to Arsenal next year but the wrangling around this is pathetic and eerily reminiscent of a certain pathetic Spanish club last summer.

Sadly, we won't see this next year!  The Chamcuff *wipes tear*

One more time...

Let's hope we do this two more times this season!

Quotes of the Day and More Ramblings

"I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks," the statement said.

"It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.
"Sadly therefore I feel for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection.
"I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa."
--Wayne Bridge

Good for Wayne.  Although some would say he is crazy to turn down an England call-up in a year when his national team is in a good position to make a run for the trophy, I applaud him for being professional enough to know that his presence would be potentially divisive.  With that said...I don't think it's a loss for England, as I feel Bridge is a mediocre player.  But his exit has made John Terry's life easier...and nobody should do that.

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"The form of Rooney does not impress me, because of the quality he has,'' he said. "He was always brilliant. This season he is playing very well and scoring many goals, but he is not a different player - he is a winning guy.

''I hope to play with him again some day. Anything is possible. I am really happy for him this season, and not just for him but for the other players at Manchester.''
''First of all, I speak with the boss, Ferguson, sometimes,'' he said. ''Rooney I speak with... Rio, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Anderson - many of them. Just because I have left the club does not mean my relationship with these guys ends. I have spent many years playing with them and they are still my friends. But what I speak to the boss about is private.''
--Cristiano Ronaldo

I secretly taped Ronny and SAF and here is what they said:
SAF: "Hey, Ronny boy, how are ya?"
CR:  "'appy...no, I not 'appy."
SAF:  "What's the matter, son?"
CR:  "Waaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
SAF:  "Ronny, stop cryin' son."
CR:  "I miss you *sniff*, I miss Roo *sniff*, and RM is poo *sniff sniff*"
SAF:  "Ahhhh...well, son, you wanted to go there so I sold ya."
CR:  "I know, I need listen to you.  *sniff* I gets no service from wing.  Kaka play like poopoo name and Raul think he better.  He no give me my 7.  I want my 7!!! *sniff sniff * 9 is dumb."
SAF:  "You've really done a stinky in your own mess kit, haven't ya lad?!"
CR:  "I want come home...and I"
SAF: "Ronny, hold on lad, Valencia is on the other line..."
*pause*
SAF: "Sorry, son...I need to talk with my star winger...you be a good lad..."
CR:  "But, Da.."
*click*
:)

Does anyone besides me think it's funny that Ronny still refers to SAF as "boss" ???????

#######

INJURY UPDATE:

Anderson was replaced in the match Tuesday after stretching for the ball.  United have confirmed that he has ruptured his cruciate ligament and will be out for up to ten months.  He will convalesce in Porto (Portugal) with a physio he knows from his days playing for Porto FC.

This isn't as big of a blow for United as the Giggsy broken arm scenario, or Rio with his back injuries.  I like Ando but he hasn't produced like we needed him to do since Ronny's departure.  He's only scored 1 goal in 100 appearances for us.  But he does show great hustle in the middle.  Ando's been riding the bench since January, when he went AWOL on United to reportedly try out for a team in Brazil.  I think these young bucks have the idea that all teams in the world run like United and their players are treated with the same regard.  No doubt Ando found out in Brazil how good he has it at United! 

#######

Internazionale 2-1 Chelsea

Not sure how I could top that...so...Ciao!

Botas Moradas para Cristiano

I have to give him credit...he isn't afraid to be different.  Ronny has never shied away from risky fashion.  Some I thought were forgivable because his athletic body masked the hideousness of the outfits, but some have been...umm...errr....*rolls eyes*...yeah.
So yesterday CR found himself back in England...not Manchester...grrrrrrr....but London.  He was revealing the new CR7-inspired boots for Nike.  The Mercurial Vapors have been big sellers for the American company and having the world's best footballer wearing them hasn't hurt!  In the past he has sported red, green, dark gray, electric blue, pink, lime green, black, yellow...and now....lavender!! 
Purple is one of my favorite colors.  The newest beauties are light purple with an orange stripe.  I have a polo shirt to match that...maybe I should send it to him!
He was interviewed by over 300 journalists...for boots!  My only criticism is that the authorities in Britain didn't detain him for some reason that would keep him in England for the next 6 years...of course he would have a place to stay in Manchester...he still hasn't sold his house!

I like them.  They're pretty and they will clash with his RM kit!

Oops...they'll clash with his Portugal kit too!  Red, green, purple, orange....ewwww!

Double Winners; United and Bordeaux

Both of my teams were victorious today.  United put the hammer down on West Ham United, 3-0 at Old Trafford.  A brace by Rooney (the man is on fire!) and a clinical closer in the box by Michael Owen put the Reds within one point of Chelsea at the top of the table.  Valencia, who was the MOTM, played brilliantly down the wing (reminiscent of CR), supplying two beautiful crosses (one on a no-bounce pass from Berba) to Rooney for his headers.  It reminded me of years past and the Rooney/Ronny love affair.  Valencia currently sits tied for fourth (along with Giggsy) in the Prem League Assists leaders (9).  Roo now has 23 Prem League goals for the season, and 28 overall for Manchester.  Can he beat Ronny's single-season record of 42?  Stay tuned.
Some photos from the match:

Roo thanking Val for the service

Anderson went off in the first with a knee injury

Michael Owen with a trademark finish

Yep...I know how to play!

 

Bordeaux played their first tie (away) in the Champions League Round of 16 versus Olympiakos.  Michael Ciani scored an all-important away goal, which was the only goal in the match.  The return tie in Bordeaux will be in March.

High-flier Chamakh

Ciani scores

Celebrating Ciani's score

Gourcuff in a tangle

The defending champions, Barcelona, only managed a 1-1 draw in Stuttgart.  The Blaugrana have not played well in CL matches this season and were lucky to progress out of their group.  If they want to defend the title in Madrid they will have to play some better footy.  Personally, I'm hoping they don't! (I'm on record as to my aversion to trolls).

Stuttgart score (and #10 doing nothing as usual)

C-Club will be in Milan today to take on Inter.  Former C-Club boss, Jose Mourinho, is the manager of the Italian side and of course he has initiated a pre-match verbal war; "Chelsea will never be the same without me," and "Ancelotti and Company are out to get me!"  Drama Drama Drama.  Be Champions!

Another C-Scum Disappointment

It wasn't too long ago that I was waxing pointedly about a certain member of the C-Club who had disappointed everyone by his extra-marital Olympics (sorry to sully that great organization) with any woman possessing a pulse.  The C-Club issued a statement last weekend saying players caught in the same predicament would be fined heavily and scorned publicly...so it's a mere few days later and one Ashley Cole (sounds like a bedspread company...ironically enough) who has the nickname of  "Cashley" Cole, for his willingness to follow a better amount of money to another team, has been booted from his home in Oxshott, Surrey (fittingly called, Hurtmore House...I'm not making this up) by his pop-star wife, Cheryl Cole.  It seems that the Cash has been a very bad boy just like teammate and neighbor, John Terry.  The tally of scores is now at 5.  He is well under the Tiger Woods record, but the press has just grabbed ahold of this so we might be looking at more gals wanting their 15 minutes of whore infamy.
The naughty boy is currently nursing a broken ankle suffered in a match two weeks ago and he's sure to be hurtin' in the buttocks region when his wallet gets done over by Cheryl's solicitors.
I have to give Cheryl credit.  She differs from the "I'll do anything you say, John, because I have no money-making skills of my own, and especially the Armani-affording kind" Mrs. Terry who took her man back in a most-public and disgusting display of phonyness...*cue Endless Love* romping on the beach hand in hand *My love...there's only you in my life* canoodling by the pool with their twins *the only thing that's bright* a gentle kiss...*tires screeching*...enough of the tired and predictable music video.
In case you haven't heard, the soon-to-be-ex Mrs. Cole is one of the girlband, Girls Aloud.  She is very successful in the UK (only a blip here in the States), and she is also a judge with Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent.  So she doesn't need any of the Cashley's money, and she certainly doesn't need the fame.
The Cole got caught because he sent obscene text messages replete with nude pix of his body to a porn star.  So it was fitting that Cheryl dumped him by text message (sound familiar, Rosey?).  I have no proof of it, but this is probably what it said:
DEAR *&!#LEY
I BRK UP WID U
HIT DA ROAD

Now before you think I'm biased against the C-Club (although I am), I can't say that Cheryl isn't at fault here as well.  No one knows what goes on behind the doors of the swanky nouveau-riche abodes of the footy-gifted, and Cheryl has waxed idiotic in the past...especially this beauty:
"I was 15 when I lost my virginity, but I made my boyfriend wait three months, so I am really proud of myself for that.” *Church Lady scowl*

The Hobbling One has pronounced all of this bidness as a "witch hunt." *dramatic pause* Obviously he never read The Crucible (or any other play for that matter) and fashions himself as a modern-day Goody Proctor; burning at the stake for allegedly conjurin' with Tituba and sending spirits after Abigail Williams.  Although a literary stretch, perhaps this tale of marital dread is a 2010 version of Arthur Miller's slant on the McCarthy era.  Lies lies everywhere.  Of course the lies are all coming from one source in this 5-Act play...and not from a girl named Abigail...but one named Ashley.

As previously noted, it is my policy not to post photos of C-Club members (including Ashley), unless in this form:

:)

I've tired of this run-on disaster that is the C-Club...so to quote Monty Python...

"And now for something completely different."

Cristiano's Homeland Devastated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVSY3DoDj4I&feature=player_embedded

from the Chicago Tribune:

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands (AP) — Rescue workers dug frantically Sunday to free cars and homes buried under heaps of caked mud in Madeira, after torrential flash floods and mudslides killed at least 40 people on the popular Portuguese island.

More than 120 others were injured and an unknown number of others were missing, possibly swept away or smothered, authorities said, adding that they expected the death toll to rise.
Heavy rain lashed the island Saturday, turning some streets in capital of Funchal into raging rivers of mud, water and debris. The storm — the worst to hit the island since 1993 — also displaced 250 people.
Cars that had been swept downhill by muddy waters had landed, crumpled, on the rooftops of houses downstream. Rescue teams who had dug out one car from chocolate brown slime were seen working inside it, possibly to recover more bodies.
The death toll "will likely increase, given the circumstances of this flood," regional social services spokesman Francisco Ramos said, adding that there were "great difficulties" in communications.
The flash floods were so powerful they carved their own paths down mountains and through the city, churning under bridges and even tearing some down. Residents had to cling to railings to make sure they weren't swept away. Cars were consumed by the force of the water, and the battered shells of overturned vehicles littered the streets.
Rescue workers wearing helmets helped people cross at some places where the flow of the water wasn't so strong. The water swept even a heavy fire truck downstream, slamming into a tree, while rescuers on inflatable rafts navigated through streets looking for trapped residents.
The weather improved Sunday, making it easier for rescue workers to move around. Still, some roads and bridges were washed away while others were littered with uprooted trees, cars and boulders, all hampering search and rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Jose Socrates said he was "profoundly shocked" by the severity of the floods and promised the government would help Madeira recover as quickly as possible.
A medical team backed up by divers and rescue experts was being sent Sunday aboard a C-130 transport plane to the archipelago, 550 miles (900 kilometers) southwest of Lisbon. The plane was also carrying telecommunications equipment to help repair damage, since the flash floods also ripped out phone lines.
Madeira is the main island of a Portuguese archipelago of the same name, in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. The island is popular with British tourists.
The British Foreign Office in London said it was "urgently investigating" reports that a British national had gone missing in the flooding. It also said a small number of Britons had been hospitalized on Madeira.
Army units based on the island mobilized rescue teams, debris removal crews, bridge specialists and two helicopters to help with the disaster.
The island's most famous son, Real Madrid football star Cristiano Ronaldo, was horrified by the floods.
"Nobody can remain indifferent to the disaster," he told journalists in Madrid. "I want to express my willingness to, as far as I can, help agencies and authorities to overcome the effects of this devastation." [end story]

Cristiano's family were not injured by the flood.  His mother (who splits her time between Funchal, Lisbon, and Madrid), and his sister, Elma (who lives in Funchal with her husband, Edgar, and daughter, Leonor) were in Lisbon, as his youngest sister, Katia, gave birth to her son, Dinis (named for Cristiano's deceased father), on Thursday.  His mother reported that the cousins on the island were in contact and okay.

Allez Bordeaux!, Goober Gooners, Simply Golden

Bordeaux advanced to the final of the Coupe de la Ligue (French League Cup) with a big win over Lorient.  Down a goal the Marine et Blanc equalized with a penalty by Wendel (Chamakh was taken down in the area).  Just a few minutes later, Chamakh took the Girondins ahead with a beautiful header (his trademark).  He truly is the man with the golden cranium!  Wendel added another and Yoan Gouffran finished off les Merlus.  Score: 1-4 Bordeaux.
They will meet Olympique Marseilles in the final in late March.

The Man With The Golden Head

Chamakh was definitely the Man of the Match!

From the "Huh?" category:
Arsenal gave away a Champions League match against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao (a tough place to play).  Porto has long been a graveyard for EPL teams until Manchester United pipped them for a 0-1 win last year when Portugal native Cristiano Ronaldo launched a wicked 42-yard kick...yes, 42 yards.  The Porto keeper, Helton, had no chance at the curving ball.  United were the first English team to beat Porto at home. 
Arsenal had a great chance, as I feel Porto has dropped somewhat.  Even though the Gunners were missing ten men due to injury they still have some quality scorers when it comes down to crunch time.  Sadly it was their backup keeper, Fabianski, and their oldtimer/newcomer Sol Campbell who helped seal the win for the Portuguese league-leaders. 
Fabianksi palmed a ball into the goal for the first score and then when Campbell passed back to Fabianski, he realized the mistake, picked it up and gave it to Martin Hansson (the referee who missed the Henry handball).  Porto was awarded a freekick, which they took WHILE CAMPBELL AND FABIANSKI WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHOSE FAULT IT WAS!!!!!!  The Portuguese scored with an open net.  Campbell was sort of a saviour/pariah at the same time.  He scored the equalizer, then caused the second goal.
I'm sorry.  I want all EPL teams to make it through to the semifinals of the CL, with United advancing to the Finals (like last year!...only winning it this time).  But if you play like idiots, then you don't deserve to represent the EPL.  Come on, Gooners! (Chamakh could be playing for them next year......*puppet face*)

And now for some Olympic props.  Congratulations to Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso (Gold and Silver in the Women's Downhill!)  and Shani Davis for his second-straight Olympic Gold in the 1000 meter speed skating.  Now, Shaun White needs to add another gold tonight!

Ze Honest Truth

French football legend Zinedine Zidane has expressed his disappointment at the performance of Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League last 16 first-leg defeat to Lyon.

Zidane scored the winner the last time los Merengues lifted European football's most coveted trophy when they defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final at Hampden Park.
"This is a big disappointment, not really because of the score but because Real Madrid played a bad game against a Lyon team who played well despite their poor form in Ligue 1," he is quoted as saying by Goal.com France before adding that the display was Madrid's worst performance in quite some time.
"It's a long time since Real had a bad game like this. This is the beauty of football, you never know the result. There is a second leg but it won't be easy." [end story]

In today's marca.com Zizou said that he thought Madrid would win their 10th CL this year.  He accompanied the team to Lyon (this is the first time he's done that).  Maybe he's rethought that statement after today's match.

The Italian Job and The French Connection

No, this blog isn't about two action movies.

The Italian Job
Today, an under-rated United took a depleted defensive team (Vidic out and Rio still 1/2 fit) to the San Siro in the heart of ArmaniLand and secured a much-needed away victory in the their two-tie Champions League matchup with AC Milan.  The Milanese, with the likes of former Red, David Beckham and former World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho (whom manutd.com called "the buck-toothed one"), were slated by some to win over the Ronaldo-less Red Devils.  It was not to be.
The Italians took a 1-0 lead with a lucky deflection into the net when the Dinho took a poorly-cleared Beckham freekick and sent it goalward.  The Reds seemed to be on their heels for the first 20 or so minutes.  Then the pace changed a bit and Paul Scholes "shinned" a limping winner into the goal.
After the break, United seemed to find their legs and never looked back.  Two Rooney headers (the last being a Ronaldo-esque cranial rocket) put the Reds up 1-3.  Valencia had only been in the match for one minute when he sent the pinpoint cross in to Rooney.  Every day I become more and more of a Valencia fan!! But Milan weren't done.  In injury time Seedorf back-heeled a beauty into the net and the Milanese were now down 2-3.  An idiotic sending off of Michael Carrick for a second yellow card (I hope that United try to rescind this) left the Reds down a man in the waning minutes.  But Milan couldn't score and that means Manchester takes a one goal advantage (3 away goals if it comes to a draw at OT) into their home match.

Becks shakes hands with England teammate Wazza

Milan keeper Dida regrets the Scholes goal

Showin' a little Scholesy love

1-2 United!

Ronaldo and Messi who?  I'm the world's best player!!

If Ronny can do it then so can I...1-3 United

Carrick sent off...ridiculous.

The French Connection
Bordeaux are sitting atop the Ligue 1 standings.  Lyon, who have been the perennial favorites in the battle for French dominance were outpipped by les Girondins last year for the title.  This year the Lyonnaise are languishing from 4th to 6th and 12 points down from Bordeaux.  So, you would think that a team who are sitting second in La Liga would trounce on the downward spiraling Lyonnaise.  It was not to be.
The lackluster Real Madrid showed their same old spotty form that has dogged them the entire season.  They have one good game (usually against inferior sides) and the press shout "They will win their 10th (Champions League title) this year!"  Then the next game they play like idiots (as they did today) and the press shout "200 million wasted!!!!" They showed absolutely nothing today that would tell me they could shake off their "Last 8 curse" and host the Champions League on home soil this year.  Yes, they will probably be there...sitting in the stands with the rest of the people who paid to get in. :)
Lyon won 1-0 with a late winner by Makoun.  Now the Lyonnaise have to travel to the Bernabeu to somehow hold on to their 1-0 win.  Their advantage is that Real did not score an away goal, so if they manage to hang another one on Casillas, that could be the nail in the coffin for the Madridistas.

Au Revoir, les Blancs!!

Tough Love

from The Independent

Sir Alex Ferguson could not have been more fulsome in his praise yesterday about the young footballer who left Manchester United in what some would regard as his prime, leaning back in his chair as he remembered the good times. "He was a marvellous player," he said, momentarily lost in the memory. "Marvellous."
Unfortunately for David Beckham, the former United No 7 in question was Cristiano Ronaldo.

That paean was delivered in response to a question at San Siro yesterday about whether Milan had lost more with the departure of Kaká to Real Madrid or United with Ronaldo's sale to the same club last summer. What followed was the kind of hagiography that most United players under Ferguson, past or present, can only dream of – especially the former United player who will, if selected, line up for Milan tonight.
Ferguson talked openly about the difficulties of compensating for the loss of "the best player in the world". "I'm biased but I think he [Ronaldo] is," he said. "When a player like that goes there is a loss. You have to react and recover. You have to look at your team differently and you have to move on."
As is often the case when he talks about Ronaldo, Ferguson took on the character of a teenager who has had his heart broken for the first time.

The contrast with his response to questions about Beckham could not have been more marked. Earlier in the day, Beckham had described Ferguson as "a father figure", in fact when he speaks about his former manager it is hard not to think of a rejected child reaching out to a parent. But Ferguson is not up for playing a role in this particular love-in. Seven years on and he is still determined to give Beckham the cold shoulder.
When it came to offering his opinions on what Beckham had to offer at the age of 34, the only quality that Ferguson could think of was "experience". It was the equivalent of praising one of his thoroughbred racehorses for having four legs. "David has good experience, that's what he has," Ferguson said. "He has one hundred-something caps for England. He has played for Manchester United and Real Madrid."
The "hundred-something caps" was a classic Ferguson put-down – it is of no interest to him that Beckham has a record 115 caps for an England outfield player – and if anyone expected him to forget Beckham's rancorous departure they were very mistaken.
We were not quite back in the summer of 2003, when any mention to Ferguson of the recently departed Beckham caused the temperature in the room to drop dramatically – but we were not far off.
As for Beckham, there was only praise for the manager he has always claimed sold him against his will. Beckham, of course, never criticises anyone but even by his standards the praise for Ferguson – "an incredible man" – was unrelenting yesterday.
"There is no score to be settled. Sir Alex Ferguson has been like a father figure to me, always has been and always will be, no matter what people have said in the past abut our relationship," Beckham said. "We had good times and bad times but I only remember the good times. Of course as a Milan player I want to win this tie and to say that as a Manchester United fan is quite difficult.
"Sir Alex Ferguson is a manager who is respected all the way through football and around the world. He was the man who gave me the chance at the club I always dreamed of playing for. The club has moved forward and my time to leave Manchester United was 2003 but I definitely don't hold anything against the manager – he really is an incredible man."
Exactly seven years have passed but the sale of Beckham, and his attendant falling out with Ferguson, still ranks as one of the most interesting sagas in modern football. We have never really got Ferguson's side of it – that will have to wait for the second volume of his memoirs – but Beckham gave a version of sorts in his autobiography that came out later in 2003, subsequent to his departure.
According to the bestselling My Side the moment that Beckham knew he was finished at United did not come when Ferguson kicked that loose football boot into his face in the aftermath of a defeat to Arsenal or on any one of the occasions when Beckham was left on the bench in his last season at United.
As Beckham recounted it in his autobiography, it came when he sat at home in the early hours watching a re-run of United's victory over Real Madrid which had not prevented them from being eliminated 6-5 on aggregate from the Champions League quarter-final. "It's over," Beckham recounted. "He wants me out."
The clue, Beckham said, was in Ferguson's reaction when the camera cut to him after a free-kick of Beckham's had missed the target. Beckham had come on as a substitute after controversially being left on the bench and had a huge impact, scoring twice to give United a chance of rescuing the tie. "His face just told me everything I needed to know," Beckham later wrote. "His rage, his frustration: and it was all Beckham's fault."
Now Beckham is not even the most famous United player to have left the club, nor the most expensive. Ronaldo can claim both those honours, not to mention the undying admiration of Ferguson – and since Beckham left, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane have gone in equally rancorous circumstances.
Ferguson clearly believes that to praise Beckham too lavishly would be to play into the hands of a player who he seems still to treat with a degree of mistrust. It would also accord Beckham an importance that Ferguson does not believe he deserves. He may be right if Milan's Englishman is left on the bench tonight, as he has been for the club's last two games.
Even when Beckham turned up to watch United train before their game at Inter Milan last year there was not the big emotional reunion that the player himself would have craved. Seven years after he left United, three months before his 35th birthday and with the end of his career looming, all Beckham wanted was a bit of appreciation from his old manager. As is his wont, Ferguson refused to oblige. [end story]

I have mixed feelings about this article.  I agree in principle that SAF and David did not part on good terms, but I beg to differ on the reason.  Sir Alex is 100 percent footy.  His uncanny ability to pick players (although there are a few notable flops...Veron, Djimba Djimba) has made Manchester United the team to beat on any given day.  When David and his skeletal wife became the focus of David's persona in the newspapers and not his footy, that's when Fergie had to put his foot (literally...hahaha) down.
I have no doubt that David truly loves United and cheers for them every day.  I saw him during the Inter match last year at the San Siro when Ronny scored on a freekick...the cameras panned to David who was devilishly rubbing his hands together as if to say, "hahaha...that's my United!"
But David plies his trade in another venue these days and I feel that SAF's terse comments about Becks was no more than an opposing manager not wanting to give him any fuel by making him think this was a touchy-feely tie.  Footy is war.  And David is the enemy standing in the way of United's road to Madrid.

Uhhhhhh....NO

Soccernet understands that some Premier League clubs have expressed their fears about the adverse effect on English football should there be a four-way play-off to decide who claims England's final Champions League place.

Currently the teams finishing in the top four positions are handed entry to Europe's elite competition, either in the main draw or at the qualifying stage, but the Premier League is believed to be considering a proposal to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League spot.
But Soccernet understands the idea has little support among the clubs, who are concerned that it could cost English football one of its coveted places in the Champions League.
It has been suggested that only the first three European spots be decided on league position and the fourth place be determined by a play-off. That could mean the teams finishing between fourth and seventh play a mini-knockout competition.
One idea also mooted is that it could see the return of the failed "39th game" proposal, meaning the play-offs would take place in another country, such as the United States, Australia or the Far East, but any suggestion to switch one of the most imporant games in a club's history to a foreign ground would surely be met with opposition.
The Dutch Eredivisie ran a play-off system for their second Champions League spot from 2006 but it was scrapped after just two seasons.
Such a move would be seen as a measure to inject more competition into the league, but if the team finishing seventh qualified for and won the Champions League place play-off, it could affect English football's coefficient if they then went out before reaching the group stage. Should that happen, eventually it is possible England's quota could be cut from four to three clubs.
In addition, the fixture programme is so congested already that extending the season is not something most clubs would encourage, especially in a World Cup or European Championship year.
The same four clubs - Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea - have filled the top four positions in five of the past six seasons. Only Everton, in 2005, have broken their stranglehold.
The proposal is thought to have been raised at a recent meeting of all 20 clubs and will be considered again when they next meet in April. If the proposal were to be voted on at any stage in the future, a 14-6 majority could be enough to see it implemented, although it would not be in force for another three years due to the current cycle of TV deals.
A Premier League spokesman said: "We look at all sorts of ideas and rarely make comment until we have decided something definitely.'' [end story]

Who's idea was this? And was he drinking Guinness at the time he was making this ridiculous proposal?

The top four teams have earned their spot by playing well enough to be there at the end.  This is their reward.  I'm sure the other leagues would endorse this as it would mean fewer EPL teams qualify for the CL.  I would think that the smarter heads at the Prem League offices would punt this foolish idea in the name of sanity.

Tres bonne, monsieurs!

ENFIN!!!  After a three-game slide of less-than-stellar footy, les Girondins put on an inspired performance today against St. Etienne.  The Stephanois had beaten the reigning Ligue 1 champs 3-1 at home at the first of October.  With Montpellier capitalizing on Bordeaux's recent dip in form, the three points today were crucial.

Marouane Chamakh started off the scoring in the 19th minute with one of his beautiful trademark headers from a cross by Wendel.  The goal was Chamakh's 10th for the year. 
Marouane's goal provider, Wendel, opened up the lead ten minutes later with a tremendous freekick that looked to be heading directly for the keeper, then took a wicked swerve into the interior side netting.
St. Etienne didn't get too far behind, and a brilliant freekick by Sako in the 45th minute put the Stephanois back in contention.
Les Girondins played the middle 30 in seemingly defensive mode, with no offensive sparks at all.  On several occasions the visitors almost drew.  One such moment came in the 71st minute when Gonzalo Bergessio missed a penalty wide of the mark.  Then, the Man of the Match Wendel put the game away with a technical strike from a Gouffran cross.  Gourcuff took a nasty studs-up to the ankle (should have been a red) and left the match with 20 to go.  Hopefully he will be fit for Tuesday.
Ironic that the Bordelaise won 3-1, the same score they lost by in October.  Overall the match was very physical, with 7 yellow cards (4 for Bordeaux) being given.  But it's 3 points and they are now in the lead again. 
Marouane and company take off to Athens tomorrow to play Olympiakos (Tuesday) for the first of the two Champions League ties.

And now for a few pics:

Chamakh puts his trademark cranium on a 12th-minute winner

More of the FMC

And now for an Olympic tie-in.  Today the United States scored its first-ever medal in the Nordic Combined event.  Silver-medalist Johnny Spillane was edged out in the closest finish in Nordic Combined history...0.4 seconds.  The winner?  Jason Lamy Chappuis of France.  Born in Missoula, Montana to an American mother and French father, he moved to France as a child and competes for France.  The tie-in?  If Jason had darker skin he could be a brother of French-Moroccan Marouane Chamakh!!!

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Homesick

Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford before moving to the Bernabeu - winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2008 and a number of personal accolades - and has adjusted well to life in Spain.

Two goals against Xerez on Saturday night took his tally in Madrid to 15 goals in 16 games in all competitions but despite his success in La Liga, Ronaldo admits that United still have a place in his heart and that he would like to return to the club.
"Of course I miss playing for Manchester United," Ronaldo said. "I played there for six years and that's a long time.
"I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there. It's always possible.
"I want to fulfil my contract here but, in the future, only God knows. I will not say I am not happy here at Real Madrid. I am really happy and everyone knows this is my club but, of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there."
Sir Alex Ferguson brought an 18-year-old Ronaldo to United from Sporting Lisbon when paying £12.24 million in the summer of 2003. [end story]

He still hasn't sold his house in Manchester. :)
Despite all his goal-scoring in Ethpanha, he hasn't won anything there...like these:

Premier Golden boot, etc...

FIFA World Player of the Year

Ballon d'Or

3 Premier League Championships

Carling Cups, Community Shields, and the most important one:

Champions League

As I've said many times before...Ronny looks better in Red!

Old Trafford 100

"Another two goals, another match-winning performance, another team brutally dispatched by the player with gelled hair, tangerine boots and magic in his feet. The eulogies are beginning to sound repetitive, but nobody at Manchester United will mind while Cristiano Ronaldo is bewitching Old Trafford and seeing off all contenders to be known as the most devastating player in the Premier League. Has there ever been a United forward capable of wreaking such havoc?"


Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
 
Manchester United is about to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Old Trafford.  They've been counting down to the day and Ronny's freekick against Pompey was #93.
What Manutd.com had to say:
 
United strolled to a 2-0 win in the successful defence of the Premier League title, and Ronaldo's effort was a runaway winner of the club's goal of the season competition. At the time, the man himself admitted he had scored 'a great goal, probably my favourite,' while Sir Alex Ferguson was left purring by the precision of the strike. "It was within two inches of the junction of the bar and post,'' he marvelled. "It was a marvellous hit - no goalkeeper in the world could have saved that. That's one of the best free-kicks I've ever seen."
 
Here is the goal courtesy of youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8vVOz9XAU0
 
Ronny scored two today for his new club (not freekicks).

Is There an Ortho and Psychiatrist in the House? And a Straight-Jacket?

Yesterday I reported (via a photo) that Ryan Giggs had a booboo on his wrist.  Well...it seems he has more than a booboo...it's fractured and the FA Player of the Year will have to sit out a month while it heals. :(  But, it could be worse.  C-word defender, Ashley Cole (or Cashley Cole as they call him in England) has broken his ankle and will be out for three months.  Cashley is the one player Cristiano said he hated playing against!  This also means that he might be a no-show for the World Cup.
Get Well, Giggsy...we need you!
What I would write on Cashley's cast..."You'll never be Ryan Giggs!" :)

Quasimodo: "the bells...the bells..."
Good Grief.  Sepp Blatter, whom I affectionately refer to as Septic Bladder, has spewed forth once again a river of verbal diarrhea unparalleled in the universe!!!
As you know, John Terry has been a bad boy recently (and not-so recently).  His club, the C word, has given him leave from this weekend's cup tie to patch up his differences with Mrs. Terry in Dubai.  The C-word club is calling it "compassionate leave," although I feel it is more "put the finger in the dike" on Mr. Terry's part.  He doesn't want half of his fortune to fly out the door with Mrs. Terry (although she HAS been in Dubai for over a week with JT's credit cards...).
So, feeling he needed to weigh in on the JT saga, Mr. Blatter (who is the president of FIFA) gave an interview to soccernet and this is what he blabbered on about:

Despite the nationwide controversy in England, Blatter joked that in "Latin" countries, Terry's conduct may not have been considered a problem.

Blatter said: "Listen, this is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in let's say Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded."

I'm without words.  *flushes Blatter*

Now for the crazy news.  Reports are out today that Raul, whom I refer to lovingly as Tutanbaul, has signed a deal to play with the New York Red Bulls in MLS.  The mummied-one's contract is up with RM at the end of the season and let's face it...he's seen his better days; the wrapping is starting to fray and he seems to be out of favor with the pharaoh (Pellegrini)...In my estimation, New York is a step up from Madridiot Land.
Tutanbaul was asked about his prospects in New York and he had this to say:
*mummy talk* "uhh uhhhhhh UHHHHHHHH uhh uhhhhhhhh."
I clicked on Google Translate and the rough translation is...
"these vagabond shoes...are longin' to stray...." :)

Oops.  Blatter didn't go down. *flushes Blatter*

The Good, The Better, and the Downright Odd

What a day it has been. 

First for the GOOD:
Chelsea, who were leading the Reds by two points at the start of the day, headed to Goodison Park to face Everton.  The Toffees are a spotty side who have shown very little this season after last year's promising breakthrough under manager David Moyes.  But every day is a new day and going on the theory that "anyone is beatable," today was definitely Everton's day as they dominated the Blues of Stamford Bridge and walked away with a 2-1 win, thanks to a double by former United striker, Louis Saha. So...I have to say it...Sahahahahahahahahahahaha! ha.

Chelsea captain John Terry's profile photo from their programme

Now for the BETTER:
With Chelsea losing, United had a chance to go top of the table with a win at Aston Villa.  The Villains' venue, Villa Park, is a difficult ground in which to win.  But with United's recent form, and in particular Nani, the Reds didn't back down a bit.
From HERO to ZERO.

Villain goes down...

...Nani goes off

United winger Nani (real name Luis da Cunha), who in recent weeks had pulled himself from the "firesale" shelf at United to a place in the starting XI, was playing well.  Goals, assists, nutmegging, and just out-muscling the opposition, the Portuguese NT player was making believers out of the OT faithful...until the 29th minute.  He went in on a Villa player studs up and found himself face to face with a red card.  Sir Alex, who always defends his players, told MUTV that it was a "reckless tackle and I have no problem with the red card."  *falls down in disbelief*  For SAF to say that, you know it was warranted.  So, our dear Nani who seemed to be having a ReNANIassance (as I said last week) will most surely find himself in the "well, it was too good to be true" rumblings among the pubsters in Manchester.  I'm not so shocked that he was stupid, as my reticence to support him last year stemmed from his idiotic decision-making (taking wasteful shots, not seeing the obvious pass for a goal).  He will be sitting out the next game for sure and we may see Ji-Sung Park for the foreseeable future.

Rooney being Rooney

Currently my fave player, Valencia

Wazza and Giggsy

Giggsy with a booboo on the wrist

We drew...1-1.  United dominated from beginning to end but couldn't hit the goal to bag the winner.  Which means we made up a point on Chelsea, but failed to launch ahead.  But...the Blues have been dropping points recently and they looked awful today.  Arsenal managed a 2-0 win against Liverpool (no big deal, as Drivelpool is playing like...well...drivelpool), so they managed to make up 2 points on us (still down 5) and 3 on Chelsea (down 6).  I must say that I would love for us to win every match from here on out and Chelsea fall down to 3rd.  They've done it before!...*whispers with mocking tone* "last year"

And now the DOWNRIGHT ODD:
Marouane Chamakh, who has been in the news every day with reports of "He hasn't signed yet for Arsenal," has most believing that a deal has already been made with Arsene Wenger and the French-Morrocan will be plying his trade at the Emirates next year.  He reiterated today that he has been in touch with Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool, but that no agreement had been reached with either.  So why is this downright odd?  Well, it's not WHO he was linked with, but WHERE he was when he spoke to reporters...

Marouane was tapped by Bordeaux politico, Jean Lassalle, to run in his MoDem party (which sounds like a rap label) for the regional elections. *Laughs uncontrollably*  Firstly, the timing of this is so ridiculous.  If he is truly going to be living in England next year (as he's told everyone with decent ears), then why is he running for political office in Bordeaux?  Secondly, he was serving a "too many yellows" one-game ban today while his fellow Girondins were losing to a pathetic Monaco side in the Coupe de France.  A win would have put them in the semi-finals.  A loss sent them home with nothing.  The Marine et Blanc were on target to pick up 5 trophies this year, but their recent form has left most thinking, "TANK!"  The Champion's League tie against Olympiakos in Athens is approaching next week and the last thing you want to do going in to one of those ties is to be on a downturn formwise.

Marouane with Jean Lassalle after their press conference

An open letter to Marouane:
Cher Marouane,
As of 10 February, 2010, you play for Bordeaux.  You are NOT paid to be a politician, nor are you paid to be a full-time "send me somewhere else, please" beggar.  You need to keep your head in France, where it provides beautiful goal-bound headers via beautiful crosses by Gourcuff (also beautiful).  Stop all of this nonsense and do the right thing.  Play your heart out for Les Girondins, win some footy booty, and let your future be decided in June.
Merci et je vous embrasse très fortement,
Susanne

And now for some extras:

I would call this "Juicy prosciutto in a slimy virus roll"

To the left is Esperanza Aguirre, the president of the Autonomous Community of Madrid (whatever).  She is a hideous woman who steps on the little people so she can wear designer suits while kissing on young footballers.  Yes, Senhora Machiavelli planted a kiss on unsuspecting birthday boy, Cristiano...much to his horror.  The "person" on the right is actually a virus which has mutated to resemble the short and insignificant president of Real Madrid, Tito Perez.

Cristiano showing the first stage of "I've been slobbered on by an old, ruthless politico" disease.  Unfortunately the virus has to run its course until its contract expires in 2015.  The only known cure is to hop a plane to Manchester, wear red forever, and stay away from oxygen-wasting WAGs.

Chris, you can stop reading now...as my next photo is for the female followers:

Gourboeuf!! Gourmet!! Gourlicious!!

Gourbye!